Articles Search

Australian campaign targets Italian travellers A new tourism campaign has been launched by the Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) to boost the number of Italians travelling to Australia each year. The new campaign aims to build awareness and interest in Australia and increase the likelihood of Italians choosing Australia as their next holiday destination. Australia has strong appeal with European travellers and there is great potential to increase its share of outbound travel from the region, including Italy. The campaign includes online advertising and a 14-page travel supplement distributed in the country's leading newspapers, which have a combined readership of five million people. The campaign targets Italians who have never visited Australia before and focuses on a range of Australian holiday experiences. (Source: ATC Online, 19/7/02)

HAGÃ TÃA, Guam (August 5, 2002 - Pacific Daily News)---It will take at least six more months before landslide-ravaged Chuuk State can recover from structural and agricultural devastation, said Federated States of Micronesia President Leo Falcam.

But the grieving process over the massive loss of life in Chuuk will take much longer, said Falcam, who visited Guam yesterday.

"People in Chuuk are still in shock. It will linger on for a long time," Falcam said.

Torrential rain from then-Tropical Storm Chata'an pounded Chuuk State July 2 and triggered more than 30 massive landslides throughout the state. The death toll remains at 47. The disaster injured hundreds of people and destroyed hundreds of homes. About 1,000 people have been displaced by the deadliest disaster in the state's history.

HAGÃ TÃA, Guam (August 5, 2002 - Pacific Daily News)---Guam's efforts to develop a major market of tourists from mainland China will be a waste of time and money -- if a regional economist's perspective is proven right.

"That's a fantasy," said Wali Osman, of some people's belief that China can become a source of massive numbers of tourists, the same way Japan is for Guam's visitor industry. While China is home to more than a billion people, Osman said, the wealthy few do not travel in large numbers to specific destinations.

Osman is a Bank of Hawaii fellow at the East-West Center in Hawai‘i, an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress to strengthen relations between the United States and countries in the Asia Pacific region, according to www.eastwestcenter.org.

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (August 5, 2002 – VBTC/Port Vila Presse/PINA Nius Online)---Five senior government officials plus members of the Vanuatu Police Service Commission have been released on bail following a day of drama in Port Vila.

Fifteen people, including Attorney General Hamilson Bule, were arrested in an early morning operation yesterday on allegations of conspiracy in the appointment of new Police Commissioner Apisai Mael.

During a brief hearing last night, the Magistrate's Court said that since all 15 are being charged with the same count, they should be released. This was done even though police officers requested at least two be kept in custody.

The commander of Vanuatu's Police Mobile Force, Abby Jack Marikembo, said the arrests were mainly to force the authorities to review the appointment of the new commissioner, a former police officer.

Meanwhile, the President of the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs, Tom Numake, has appealed for calm.

"The Chief" faces an onerous challenge as the nation struggles with economic woes, writes Mark Forbes.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (August 6, 2002 – The Age)---It's back to the future for Papua New Guinea, after the nation rejected the current crop of political leaders and parliament endorsed the resurrection of the man simply known as "the Chief," Sir Michael Somare.

Gripped by economic crisis and having witnessed the bloodiest, most discredited election in its history, there is more than a touch of nostalgia in turning to the nation's founding father to rediscover the spirit of independence. Sir Michael was one of the few serving MPs to be returned, with the electorate rejecting four out of every five.

Australia, which heavily supported the reforms of his predecessor, Sir Mekere Morauta, and gave more than AUD$ 400 million (US$ 215,740) in assistance that PNG swallows a year, will be anxiously watching the direction of the new regime.

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (August 5, 2002 – Radio New Zealand International)---A religious leader in the Solomon Islands says most families in Honiara are living below the poverty line.

The Director of the National Ecumenical Youth Program of the Solomon Islands Christian Association, Reverend Gideon Tuke, says most families find it difficult to manage as a result of the continual influx of people into Honiara.

He says that almost every boat trip to Honiara brings people form the provinces into the capital.

Solomon Islands Radio quotes Reverend Tuke as saying these people do not normally have work and end up living with family and friends in already overcrowded homes.

He urges those who have nothing to do in Honiara to return to the villages and help cultivate the land.

For additional reports from Radio New Zealand International, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information Links: Radio/TV...

NOUMEA, New Caledonia (August 6, 2002 - Oceania Flash)---A platoon from Vanuatu's Mobile Force (VMF) paramilitary group is currently in New Caledonia as part of a joint training exercise scheduled to end on Saturday, the daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes reports.

The one-week joint exercise is taking place as part of the New Caledonia-based armed forces (FANC)'s regional cooperation program with neighboring countries.

It is focusing on training commando-type troops for situations in a water environment.

APIA, Samoa (August 5, 2002 - Samoa Observer/PINA Nius Online)---While more boys than girls drop out of school in Samoa census, figures show more men received university education than women, a workshop heard.

The workshop was called to discuss details of a report a committee of the Samoan government compiled. It was among initiatives to put into effect the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Women from all sectors were invited to the presentation of the committee's report.

The report said the Samoan constitution provides protection against discrimination. It "prohibits any laws and any actions by the State that discriminate against any person on the grounds of descent, sex, language."

The report says that in public life in 2001 in Samoa, there were three women MPs, one minister, seven heads of departments, one head of statutory bodies, and 18 assistant directors.

Currently security screening of passengers is conducted by the airlines along with the presence of an airport security officer.

America's Transportation Security Administration said it is now accepting job applications for security screeners for 42 more American airports, including Pago Pago.

The administration’s establishment followed the terrorist attacks with hijacked planes against the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, DC. It is part of the major changes in the operation of U.S. airlines and airports implemented after September 11.

The salary of a transportation security screener ranges from US$ 23,600 to US$ 35,400 depending upon experience and the locality, according to the administration.

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.